Free tool · BuildMeA Projects
Construction Retention Tracker
Main contractors hold 5% of your money back. Half comes back at practical completion, half after the defects period — if you remember to ask. Most subbies don't. Log every job once, see what's overdue, and print or download a reminder so the second moiety never slips away.
Your jobs
Enter your contract value and the retention percentage — the tool splits it into two moieties and works out when each falls due from the practical completion date and defects period.
Pro ✨ brand it as your own
Unlocked with any BuildMeA package. Tap any locked option below to find out more.
Printable retention statement
Retention Statement
| Job / site | Contractor | Moiety | Amount | Due date | Status |
|---|
Who this is for
Subcontractors on JCT or NEC construction contracts — builders, electricians, plumbers, groundworkers, joiners — who have money withheld as retention by a main contractor. If you've ever finished a job and quietly forgotten to chase the second half of your retention a year later, this is for you.
Frequently asked questions
What is retention?
Retention is a percentage of your contract value — typically 5%, sometimes less — that the main contractor withholds from your payments as security against defects. It's usually released in two halves ("moieties"): the first half at practical completion of the works, the second half at the end of the defects liability period, commonly 12 months later.
Why do subbies lose it?
The first moiety usually gets chased naturally, because it lands close to when you're already invoicing for final account. The second moiety is the one that gets lost — it falls due 6, 12 or even 24 months after the job finished, by which point you've moved on to a dozen other sites, the paperwork is buried, and nobody in the main contractor's accounts team is going to volunteer to pay you. If you don't actively chase it, in practice it often just never gets paid.
Can I refuse retention?
You can negotiate it — some subbies successfully push back to 2.5% or offer a retention bond instead — but on most standard-form contracts it's simply part of the deal you sign. There's ongoing industry pressure for retention reform (including proposals for a ring-fenced retention deposit scheme), but until that becomes law, the practical answer is: track it properly and chase it on time.
Does this tool store my job data anywhere?
No. Every job, contractor name and contract value you add is saved only in this browser using local storage — nothing is uploaded or sent to us. Adding, editing and saving your jobs on screen is completely free; you only pop your details in when you want the take-away printed statement or a calendar (.ics) reminder file. Clear it any time with the "Clear all" button.
Please note: this tool gives a guide or estimate only. It may not be 100% accurate and is not professional advice — always check the figures before you rely on them. Every job, contractor name and contract value you log stays in your browser — nothing you type here is uploaded or stored by us. Retention percentages, release trigger events and defects period lengths vary by contract, so always check your actual contract terms.
Almost there
Where should we send it?
Pop your details in and your download is ready right away. We build websites & lead systems for UK trades — this is how we say hello.
Success
You're all set!
Check your inbox — and your spam or junk folder, just in case.
Projects Pro
Unlock the full kit
Your own fonts, colours, emojis & icons, background images, your logo on every output — and the BuildMeA branding removed. It comes bundled with any BuildMeA package. Tell us what you're after and we'll set you up.
Already unlocked on another device? It'll be enabled for you — just get in touch.
Built by BuildMeA
Need something built around your business?
This tool is free to use. We build websites, lead systems and bespoke tools for UK trades & local businesses — if you want the phone ringing more often, that's the bit we're good at.